Home to Ryan FC (League)

In our first league game since the 10th of November we had a nice "easy" game on paper to ease us back into the season. Unfortunately bottom of the league club Ryan FC clearly didn't get the memo that they were there to be our whipping boys and they set off like a team on a mission.

From the first minute they got to grips with the conditions better than us and on a very sticky pitch they were managing to pass the ball around to each other whilst we, well, got stuck in the mud!

It was no surprise for us to be down 1 nil to a very slick passing move down the Ryan left wing. Heads being scratched on the Hale End side and arguments of old started to rear their ugly heads. Both teams huffed and puffed their way around the pitch in Arctic conditions and Ryan will feel very aggrieved not to go in to the break ahead. With what proved to be the last kick of the half the Ryan keeper made a right fluff of his duty and Martin was quick to nip in and pass the ball out of his hands to the on rushing Taju who slotted home from a couple of yards out. 1 All at half time.

The half time chat was about keeping the ball, getting it wide where the most damage was being done and stop the bickering. Clearly nobody was listening as Ryan took the lead again within 2 minutes of the restart. 1 - 2 Ryan.

This seemed to shake the lads into action and we were back on level terms within ten minutes with another strike from leading scorer Martin Treadway. The wind was well and truly out of Ryan's sails and we pushed on looking for a third. With Hale End now in complete control and keeper Gary Doodes starting to get chilly (would he stay in the box or go on one of his hunts for the ball?) we pushed on and got ahead again thanks to some great work down the right with Taju supplying a slick low cross and Martin T doing the final damage 3 - 2. The fourth came with about ten minutes to go after a corner from the left followed by a scramble in the Ryan goal. Martin lofted the ball over the keeper but the ball was cleared off the line only to come back to Martin who dispatched the ball sweetly on the half volley. 4 - 2 and the game was well and truly over.

So after a tough first half we got ourselves together and working as a team (with lots of encouragement) we turned the game around a deserved the win come the end. The also makes Martin T the leagues top scorer, so well done to him.